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Notre Dame Football: 5 reasons Irish are College Football Playoff contenders

ByDana Becker|
SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 10: The Notre Dame Fighting Irish bench reacts after a safety on a kick return in the second quarter against the Nevada Wolf Pack at Notre Dame Stadium on September 10, 2016 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 10: The Notre Dame Fighting Irish bench reacts after a safety on a kick return in the second quarter against the Nevada Wolf Pack at Notre Dame Stadium on September 10, 2016 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
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Notre Dame football isn’t undefeated, but the Irish are well within reach of a spot in the 2017 College Football Playoff.

First, you have to give the Irish some credit for playing one of the toughest schedules in college football. While the first six games featured just one ranked opponent, the final six boast five that are currently among the Top-25. That includes a date next weekend with perennial rival Southern Cal at home and at night.

Having already suffered a one-point loss to contender Georgia in Week 2 in South Bend, the idea that the Irish could drop another game over the final six and make the Top-4 seems highly unlikely unless others fall by the wayside.

But it isn’t out of the realm of possibility.

Brian Kelly appears to have his team moving in the right direction following convincing wins over Boston College, Michigan State, Miami (Ohio) and North Carolina – with three of those coming on the road.

Here are five reason the Fighting Irish are real playoff contenders:

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